Shabdaguchha
Shabdaguchha
Al MahmudThe NightWould I trim up the lamp? She asked. No, I replied. Let me get the fragrance of dark. Quietly, I would like to witness How people fall asleep. The world Might take a nap, then you may go. She smiled in drowsiness and went away Darkening the night in her body. The aura of her shining dark hair Even fade a bit No matter how much I play with it. And so I scan the night with my sharp Eye to seize the moment of sleep— That might come into me with an ancient instinct And set me in the bed calm and quiet. The warmth of my relaxed bones lifts The curtain of sleeplessness. Al Mahmud (1936 - ) is one of the significant poetic voices of the 50s. He also writes short stories, novels and essays. He enriched Bengali poetry by his copious use of regional dialects. Once a radical humanist, Mr. Mahmud, who contributed poetry collections like Kaler Kalos (1966) and Sonali Kabin (1973), became an Islamist right after coming out of a year-long jail in 1974 and detached himself from the secular form of writing. He is the author of more than 80 books including 25 collections of poetry. Translated from the Bengali by Hassanal Abdullah |